Search location by ZIP code

Lewiston officer found dead in home in February died of accidental overdose, officials say

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 5:22 PM EDT May 2, 2019

Lewiston officer found dead in home in February died of accidental overdose, officials say

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 5:22 PM EDT May 2, 2019

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

THE OPIOID CRISIS IS AFFECTNG CERTAIN PROFESSIONS HERE IN MAINE. T: OFFICE NICHOLS MESERVE DIED OF A FENTANYL OVERDOSE AT HIS HOME. THE POLICE CHIEF AND RECOVERY EXPERTS SAY HS DEATH DRIVES HOME THE POINT THAT THE OPIOID CRISIS CAN IMPA ANYONE -- EVEN THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO FIX IT IN OUR COMMUNITIES. 50:38 WE'RE SEEING THAT SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, OPIOID UE DISORDR DOESN'T RESPECT ANY CLAS LINES, EDUCATIONAL LINES, ECONOMIC LINES IT CROSSES ALL OF THOSE DEMOGRAPHICS. 50:51 ACCORDIG TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.. TERE WERE NO RED FLAGS TO INDICATE OFFICER MESERVE HAD A DRUG PROBLEM. HIS RECORD ON THE JOB WAS CLEAN... AND CO-WORKERS DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHIG UNUSAL. ááGRAPHIáá THE CHIEF SAID IN A STATEMENT HIS DEATH EMPHASIZES THE FAR-REACHING AND GROWING FFECTS OF THE OPIOID CRISIS. RECOVERY EXPERTS SAY THE STIGMA OF SUBSTANCE USE - AND THE RISK OF LOSING A JOB - ENCOURAGES SOME WORKERS TO KEEP IT HIDDEN.. EVEN AS THEIR CONDITION WORSENS. 51:0 PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN TH HELPIN PROFESSIONS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, BTH POLICE OFFCERS, CORRECTIONL OFFICERS ALSO, THEY HAVE A HARD TIME COMING FORWARD WHEN THEY'VE FOUND THAT THEY'RE INVOLVED I SOMETHING THAT TECHNICALY IS ILLICIT. 51:20 THERE ARE POLITICAL EFFORTS RIGHT NOW TO MAKE IT EASIER FO FOLKS TO GET HELP... BY EXPANING EDUCTION AND PUTTING SERVICES IN EMERNCY ROOMS STATEWIDE. 5216 I THINK BECAUSE OF SOME OF THESE EFFORTS WE'RE STARTING TO SEE PROFESSIONS THAT TYPICALLY HAVE BEEN AFRAID TO COME FORWARD - PHYSIIANS, PHARMACISTS VETERINARIANS - ARE NOW COMING FORWARD WE THINK WITH GREATER RATES. 52:29 TC: THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND MAINE DEA ARE STILL LOOKING INTO T

Advertisement

Lewiston officer found dead in home in February died of accidental overdose, officials say

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 5:22 PM EDT May 2, 2019

Lewiston police have released the cause of death of Officer Nicholas Meserve.Police Chief Brian T. O'Malley said Thursday that Meserve died of a fentanyl overdose and his death was accidental.Meserve was found dead in his home in Lewiston on Feb. 8."I hope it's a reminder that the opioid epidemic touches the lives of many in the community regardless of their wealth, race, religion or profession," O'Malley said in a statement.An investigation by the Maine Attorney General's Office, the Maine State Police and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency continues, O'Malley said.O'Malley said the Lewiston Police Department conducts regular reviews regarding an officer's use of force, sick time usage, job performance evaluations and complaints from the public.He said there was nothing in these reviews or in the observations of other officers to indicate that Meserve may have been had a drug dependency or addiction issue.O'Malley said that the city is currently in negotiations with the police unions to establish a drug testing policy as a means of identifying potential substance use issues and providing resources for employees to deal with dependency or addiction issues.

LEWISTON, Maine —

Lewiston police have released the cause of death of Officer Nicholas Meserve.

Police Chief Brian T. O'Malley said Thursday that Meserve died of a fentanyl overdose and his death was accidental.

Advertisement

Meserve was found dead in his home in Lewiston on Feb. 8.

"I hope it's a reminder that the opioid epidemic touches the lives of many in the community regardless of their wealth, race, religion or profession," O'Malley said in a statement.

An investigation by the Maine Attorney General's Office, the Maine State Police and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency continues, O'Malley said.

O'Malley said the Lewiston Police Department conducts regular reviews regarding an officer's use of force, sick time usage, job performance evaluations and complaints from the public.

He said there was nothing in these reviews or in the observations of other officers to indicate that Meserve may have been had a drug dependency or addiction issue.

O'Malley said that the city is currently in negotiations with the police unions to establish a drug testing policy as a means of identifying potential substance use issues and providing resources for employees to deal with dependency or addiction issues.